hypnotism

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the practice or process of inducing hypnosis, especially through focused attention and suggestion

   The doctor regarded hypnotism as a subject for controlled psychological study.

Formed from hypnotize or hypnotise + -ism, on the model of French hypnotisme. The base ultimately comes from Greek hypnos ("sleep"). Scottish surgeon James Braid popularized hypnotism in the 1840s for the condition and methods he had earlier called neuro-hypnotism.

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